The new manufacturing facility will feature advanced technologies and sustainability advancements, to produce medicines for the US
Amgen headquarters in Thousand Oaks, California. (Credit: Coolcaesar/Wikipedia.)
Amgen has commenced construction on its new biomanufacturing plant in Ohio, US, with an investment worth $365m.
The new facility, located in New Albany, will be used to assembly of final product and packaging of medicines that address the growing demand in the US. It is expected to start operations by 2024.
Amgen aims to maximise energy efficiency and reduce wastage at the plant, to support its plan strategy of making its operations carbon neutral in a few years.
The new 270,000 ft2 facility, dubbed Amgen Ohio, will be led by Sandra Rodriguez-Toledo as its site operations vice president.
Sandra said: “When operational, Amgen Ohio will be a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which will enable us to continue to bring new innovative medicines to every patient, every time.
“We have just begun hiring and will continue to open more roles in the future for technicians and engineers, along with quality assurance, quality control, administrative and management positions.”
Amgen has contracted Turner Construction to lead the construction management for the project and CRB Group to provide design services.
The US-based drugmaker intends to make environmental sustainability a priority, and design the new plant to be LEED-certified.
The new site is expected to employ more than 400 workers for packaging and assembling medicine and will become Amgen’s second such operation, after Puerto Rico.
New Albany region has been selected for the new site, based on its positive business climate, access to diverse workforce and logistics convenience, said the company.
New Albany Company president William Ebbing said: “Amgen’s ground-breaking represents an important milestone for the New Albany International Business Park.
“As we continue to diversify and expand the Business Park, we recognize the critical importance of the biotech industry and are thrilled that a globally recognized leader like Amgen selected New Albany for its expansion.
“We’re looking forward to collaborating with Amgen as they establish operations here and become active members of the community.”
Earlier this year, Amgen secured the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Repatha (evolocumab) to treat a type of hypercholesterolemia in children.